324 A MEDLEY OF SPOET 



" Jack-fish, I reckons, and ugly owd varmints they 

 be, with tooths loike sharks'." 



" You told me distinctly that there were no fish in the 

 fleets, Rufus." 



" No, no, maister ; Oi did speak o' Redshank Island. 

 This yer fleet regular swarms with fish." 



" I think I will call you ' Ananias ' in future." 



" Yew can call Oi whatsumever yew's a mind to ; but 

 my name be Willum — Willum Thomas — that's my name, 

 and Oi don't reckon Animus, or whatever yew calls it, 

 sounds more respectful - loike or be no easier to say 

 than Willum, — or Bill, as I be generally called." 



" No ; but Ananias is a much more appropriate name 

 for you than William," quoth Dundas. " By-the-by, 

 how deep is the water in the middle of the fleet ? " 



" There b'ain't no bottom to it," replied the bailiff 

 in a half whisper. 



" Don't be a fool, man. How on earth could those 

 reeds grow if there was no bottom to the fleet ? " 



" I tell 'ee there b'ain't no bottom to it. Me owd 

 f aither did tell me so more'n thirty year ago, and I reckon 

 he oughter heve knowed, seeing as how he was a bred and 

 born marshman and didn't die till he wor very nigh 

 ninety." 



" You'll break up and sow this marsh with oats, 

 Ananias, and also the rough marsh near the homestead 

 with barley. I will order the seed from Sheelsea to- 

 morrow." 



" No, no I Oi'm danged if Oi do, unless ye sends me a 



